Lawmakers Pass Rockland Budget Plan, 17-0

The Rockland County Legislature voted 17-0 Tuesday to adopt the county executive's 2018 budget proposal. The $684.29 million spending plan calls for a 1.95 percent tax increase, which is lower than the state-mandated property tax cap.

For the average Rockland residential property owner, taxes will increase about $2 monthly.

Afterward, County Executive Ed Day commended all the legislators for their efforts, particularly Budget & Finance Chairman Jay Hood and Minority Leader Lon Hofstein.

“A detailed review of the proposed budget is always a formidable task, but the hard work has paid off,” Hood said. “The winners here are the taxpayers because they will see virtually no increase in their property tax but still benefit from the vital services county government provides daily.”

Hood, working with Hofstein, among others, finalized a series of amendments to the proposed budget that were presented to the full board for its approval.

It is the first time in at least 15 years that a county budget has been adopted unanimously, they said.

“We were able to work together to address several issues in a positive manner,” Hofstein said. “The budget stays under the cap, but it doesn’t short-change residents on services.”

The Budget & Finance Committee held a series of meetings to review everything from revenues to allocated costs to nonprofit funding. Members also heard from experts, including outside consultants who conducted independent reviews of the proposed budget and an audit of the county’s 2016 financial books.

A joint meeting between Budget & Finance and the Planning & Public Works Committees focused on the 2018 Capital Projects Budget, which lists everything from road and drainage improvements to building infrastructure efforts.

The adopted budget next goes back to the County Executive, who has line-item veto power. He can accept the entire amended budget, reject some or all of it, or take no action, which is the same as approving it.

The County Legislature would have until Dec. 20 to override any vetoes or the amended version with the vetoes becomes the budget. It takes a two-thirds vote per veto item to override a veto. Two-thirds is 12 votes.

Day said his only disappointment with the adopted budget was the unwillingness of the Legislature to set money aside to settle numerous expired labor contracts, some of which are subject to potential binding arbitration.

He said he had strategically allocated $4 million in the budget to prepare for contract settlements. Day had hoped that the Legislature would earmark the same amount, possibly from the sale of the empty Sain Building.

He said he hoped both branches of County government could work together to make sure the Sain Building is sold.

"The unanimous approval of this budget is the result of both branches in government working together to benefit the people of Rockland County," Day said. "This is government working the way it is supposed to work. "

2018 ADOPTED BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS:

• $697.5 million budget
• Stays under state property tax cap
• Increases property taxes by 1.95 percent
• Average residential property owner will pay $24 more in 2018
• Maintains vital county services (Public Safety, Highway, Human Services)
• Funds nonprofit organizations
• No layoffs

PHOTO: Budget & Finance Chairman Jay Hood / Rockland County Legislature

SEE ALSO:

Rockland County Executive Padlocks the Sain Building